Last updated: September 2025
At Meru Gossip Club, accessible at https://merugossipclub.co.ke, we value transparency and want visitors to fully understand how cookies and similar technologies are used on our platform. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, the types of cookies we place, the role of third-party cookies, and how you can manage or disable cookies according to your preferences.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They serve multiple purposes such as remembering login details, improving website performance, personalizing user experiences, and supporting advertising functions.
Cookies are not harmful software; they do not carry viruses or malware. Instead, they act as identifiers that help us recognize your browser and make your browsing smoother.
2. Why We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Ensure the website functions properly.
- Improve user experience by remembering preferences (e.g., dark mode, font size).
- Analyze traffic and understand which content is most engaging.
- Display relevant advertisements to support our free journalism.
- Enhance security and detect fraudulent activities.
- Facilitate faster loading speeds with cached data.
Without cookies, many features and services of Meru Gossip Club would not work as expected.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
A. Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the operation of our website. Without them, core services like login, security, and page navigation will not function.
Example: remembering your session when you sign in.
B. Performance & Analytics Cookies
These help us measure how our website is used. They collect information such as pages visited, time spent, and errors encountered. This data is aggregated and anonymous, used solely for improving performance.
Example: Google Analytics.
C. Functional Cookies
These remember your preferences and customizations. For instance, if you choose a specific language or region, we’ll store that choice so you don’t need to reselect it every time.
D. Advertising & Targeting Cookies
These track your browsing habits to show relevant ads. They may also be used to limit how many times you see the same ad and measure ad effectiveness.
Example: Google AdSense cookies like DoubleClick (DSID, IDE).
E. Third-Party Cookies
Our website may include content or services from third parties (such as YouTube videos, social media buttons, or embedded posts). These third parties may set their own cookies when you interact with their services.
4. Third-Party Services We Use
Some of the main partners who may place cookies on your device when you use our website include:
- Google Analytics – to measure site traffic and performance.
- Google AdSense – to deliver relevant ads and track ad performance.
- Social Media Platforms – Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram for sharing and engagement.
- Embedded Services – YouTube or other video hosting services.
Each provider has its own privacy and cookie policies which govern how they handle your data.
5. How Long Cookies Stay on Your Device
- Session cookies: These are temporary and deleted once you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies: These remain on your device until they expire or are manually deleted. Persistent cookies can last from a few days to several years, depending on their purpose.
6. How You Can Manage Cookies
You have full control over cookies. You can:
- Accept or reject cookies when prompted by our cookie banner.
- Adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies.
- Opt out of personalized ads by visiting Google Ads Settings.
- Use third-party tools like www.aboutads.info/choices to manage advertising preferences.
Please note: Disabling cookies may affect how our website functions. Some features (like login sessions, saved preferences, or certain videos) may not work correctly without cookies.
7. Legal Basis for Using Cookies
For users in the European Union (EU) and similar jurisdictions, we rely on user consent for placing non-essential cookies such as analytics and advertising. Strictly necessary cookies do not require consent because they are essential for the website to function.
8. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in technology, law, or our practices. When we do, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Significant changes may also be communicated via a notice on our homepage.
9. Contact Us
For questions about this Cookie Policy or your cookie preferences, contact us at:
📧 privacy@merugossipclub.co.ke
📍 Meru Town, Kenya